Summary
Developer – EA Vancouver
Publisher – Electronic Arts
Platforms – Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed), Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
EA Vancouver’s latest title, NHL 24, aims to improve the gameplay experience by introducing new features such as the goalie fatigue system, sustained pressure system, and vision passing system. The developers’ goal is to provide a more authentic feel to the game. However, the question remains whether these changes are enough to make NHL 24 the best hockey game.
When it comes to games like this, engaging game modes are crucial for retaining a player base. When you look at NHL 24 you see a good variety that includes World of Chel, Hockey Ultimate Team, Franchise Mode, Be A Pro, NHL Threes, and your expected modes like Season, Playoffs, and Tournaments. It was clear that EA Sports wanted to focus on World of Chel with the addition of a brand-new battle pass, storefront, and cross-play.
Cross-play was a huge addition to NHL 24, but it comes with great limitations since you can only play with someone who has the same generation console as you. What’s also a bummer about cross-play is the fact you can only do it in World of Chel and Hockey Ultimate Team. The customization options for players in World of Chel have been significantly improved with the addition of the battle pass, but that’s about it.
Hockey Ultimate Team came with some new features like Objectives 2.0 which introduces a new real-time objective-tracking system based on card types, teams, players, and on-ice actions, all while updating player progress in-game. HUT mode is just like we all remember it from the previous year.
One of the more disappointing aspects of NHL 24 is the lack of attention to other fan-favorite modes like Franchise Mode. The popular control your team mode didn’t receive anything new and it’s the same as it was in NHL 23. The NHL Threes game modes, Threes Circuit, and Threes Now, have remained unchanged for several years as well.
Gameplay is more important than game modes and NHL 24’s new systems make for an interesting time. The addition of the vision passing system in this game is a great feature as it allows players to control who they pass to. Unlike in the past where it’d be a lucky guess, now you can create plays like never before.
The goalie fatigue system is a neat feature that NHL games need. However, it’s not as effective in online matches as the system can be easily cheated. EA Vancouver definitely worked on physics-based contact since now you can reverse hit, and break glass by hitting or shooting a puck. Hitting in NHL games has never been better and it allows for more chaos.
The presentations in NHL 24 have been enhanced with new music, more crowd energy, tons of new celebrations for players and teams, and a lot of broadcast enhancements. Cheryl Pounder replaces Ray Ferraro as the Color Commentator and the iconic dynamic rink boards that we also see on TV made it to the game.
The enhanced presentation doesn’t do enough for me to love this game as it will get repetitive over time since you will likely play through a lot of the same moments. What I will say is the Stanley Cup presentation in this game is really good and has never been better.
EA Sports NHL 24 is not the best NHL game we’ve seen recently. It won’t be remembered as one of the great hockey games. Nothing stands out to me as a great selling point with this one. If you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or EA Play, it is advisable to play the game through the service.
